Machine fob cutting out the uppebs and soles op boots and shoes



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE W. G. GREELEY, OF HINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING OUT THE UPPERS AND SOLES OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 27,123, dated February 14, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IV. Gr. GREELEY, of Hingham, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Cutting Out the Uppers and Soles of Boots and Shoes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side sectional view of my invention. Fig. 2 is an end sectional View of ditto. Fig. 3 is a detached plan or face View of the cutter.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention consists in the employment or use of a reversible block or cutter holder in connection with a movable bed-piece fitted within a suitable framing and arranged to operate as hereinafter fully described, whereby the uppers and soles of boots and shoes may be cut from the leather or stock very expeditiously and wit-h great facility.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention I will proceed to describe it.

A represents a rectangular frame in which a bed-piece, B, is placed horizontally and connected to the upper ends of the toggles, C, C, the lower ends of which are connected by joints, a, to the base of the frame, A. Four toggles, C, are used, two near each side of the frame. The lower portion, b, of each toggle, C, is provided with an extention, c, and the upper ends of the extensions of the two toggles near each end of the frame are connected by a traverse bar, (Z, and to these traverse bars ropes, e, are attached, said ropes passing over pulleys, f f, on the upper part of an upright, D, and extending down to a treadle, E, to which the ropes are attached. The extensions, c, therefore, it will be seen, form a means of connecting the toggles with the treadle. They also admit of a ready application of springs, g, to the toggles, as shown in Fig. 1, said springs being fitted on guide rods, It, between the extensions, c, and the upper portions, z', of the toggles. The upper ends of the portions, z', of the toggles are connected by joints, j, to the under side of the bedpiece, B. The bed-piece, B, when not acted upon by the toggles, C, rests on horizontal bars, k, of the frame, A.

F represents a handle or bar which is formed of two parts connected by a screw, Z. The lower part of this handle terminates in a fork, m, as shown clearly in Fig. 1, and in this fork, m, a block, a, is secured by points or centers, o 0. To each side of the block, n, a cutter, p, is attached. These cutters are, of course, made to correspond to the workto be out out, and in the drawings, Figs. l and 3, sole cutters are shown. These cutters are formed of steel with a cutting edge corresponding to the configuration of the work to be cut, the interior of the cutters being hollow to receive the work as it is cut.

Each cutter, p, is provided with a follower or plunger, g, which is attached to suitable springs, r, (see Fig. l). The cutter, j), at one side of the block, n, has a reverse position to the one at the opposite side, as will be fully understood by referring to Fig. 3, the cutter being shown on the back side of the block by a dotted line.

At the upper part of the frame, A, there is a platform, s, the use of which will be presently shown.

The operation is as follows: The leather out of which the work is cut is placed on a suitable cutting board, t, and the latter is placed on the bed-piece, B. The operator then grasps the handle, F, 5nd placinv one of the cutters, p, on the leather, and holding the handle, F, in a vertical position depresses the treadle, E, with his foot, and thereby actuates the toggles, C, and elevates the bed-piece, B, the leather being forced upward suicent-ly to allow the cutter, p, to cut through it. The upper end of the handle, F, bears against the under side of the platform, s, and the handle may be lengthened or shortened to compensate for varying thicknesses of leather and the wear of the cutting board by means of the screw connection, l, of the two parts of the handle. Vhen the treadle, E, is relieved from the pressure of the foot, the springs, g, throw the toggles back to their original position, and the bed-piece, B, descends, the followers or plungers, g, actuated by the spring, r, forcing out the cut sole from within the cutter. The operator then turns the block, a, and brings the other cutter over the work by the sideA of the aperture made by thev cutting out of the previous sole and the succeeding sole is cut, the soles being cut from the leather With the heels opposite the toes and viceversa in order to economize in stock.

Inv the cutting out of uppers, of course, corresponding shaped cutters are employed, but they are attached to a reversibleblock andmanipulated in the same Way as the ones described for cutting out the soles.

I-Ia'ving thus describedmy invention,what

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is A The reversible block or cutter holder, n,

attached to an adjustable handle, F, and

used in connection with a movable bed-piece,

B, operated by the toggles, C C, and treadle E, or their equivalents, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

f W. Gr. GREELEY.

Witnesses: JOSHUA THAYER, M. GREELEY. 

